my self-imposed "uniform" all through junior high was pegged levi 501s, a solid colored pocket tee and black low top chuck taylor all stars. bought another pair a few years ago mostly for bike riding but the retro geezer grouches shamed me into getting real bike shoes...

Eric - you've been listening to the wrong retro geezer grouches. Go to the Rivendell website and read what Grant Petersen, the prototypical retro geezer grouch (the term "retro grouch" was actually coined to describe him), has to say about shoes.

I've ridden hundreds of thousands of miles in cleated cycling shoes; and also haven't touched a pair in years.

If you're going to sprint in the rain, get cleats; if you're not, get shoes that are comfy - to walk in.